2008 Draft Diary

[CelticsGM]

So the first 5 picks of the 2008 Draft are history and since I had lots of time to spend on this Draft here's my take on the development so far ... (slightly inspired by the great Bill Simmons)

Welcome to Madison Squard Palace, the site of the 2008 SSBA Draft. It promises to be a good one with talent all over the board and no clear superstar (one GM across the border even called it the first draft done under expansion rules - the best 8 players on each position could be protected ...). So lets start with the action:

Minny picks #1 after unsuccessfully trying to get rid of the pick, only to find out that picking first beats building around the best offer Kyle Korver:
SG Patrick Gatling
An impact guy in the mold of Iverson with a high "drivebyability" (and a SG with no outside shot to speak of btw). He'll be a sidekick to KG and KvH, so who cares this was the deepest position for Minny BEFORE their selection ...

Sonics select #2 and continue to stack great talent by selecting PF George Boykins who'll share this spot with vet MyDyess. Good selection and borderline starter - they now will lead the league in the "worst rebounding team" department (but knowing the Sonics they will trade half their team before day 30 for Yao, lead the league standings, break it up again and trade for the top selection in next years draft ...)

And now the best player in this draft goes to the Jazz at #3: PG Gregory Schabinger filling their biggest need and making the best team in SSBA even better. No talk about dynasty here but a great addition nonetheless.

Flash interview with Kareem Longley on the next selection: "It's gotta be me. I love Portland. The Blazers need a shooting guard and I'm the best on the board. I really hope to learn some tricks from great veterans like Stoudamire." Translation: Damn, I pray they resign Mighty Mouse so he can at least introduce me to his best pot dealers ...

So with pick #4 the Blazers select SG Kareem Longley, who'll form the backcourt of the future for the Blazers. If he ever learns to shoot he'll be a good one with great size and adequate defense. Hard to see him average 10ppg soon and hardc to see the Blazers getting cloeser to the playoffs.

and with the last pick for today #5 the Hawks do what they promised and grab PF Ivan Strong, the best big man shooter available this year. He'll get a chance to learn behind Tanner and Gadz next season and won't get a chance to show his great liabilities on defense and the boards - yo, we're still talking bout a POWER forward - as a starter soon.
So his talent to be a Dirk without the boards - a joke in itself - is undeniable, but one of the worst defensive teams in the SSBA got even worse in that department, makes you think some)

This just in: With a hysterical voice Hubie just lined out the fact that the first 5 selections this year did not play a SINGLE minute of College ball - he even smells a trend developing here ...


Ladies and Gentlemen (ok, cancel the ladies, we're not even allowed to talk menstruation problems here), thanks for stopping by and join us again tomorrow when the Suns take the next big stiff, the Knicks surprise us big time and the Hornets trade their selection right for the 2011 first pick and a superstar ...

[HawksGM]

an amusing article with plenty of good analysis, but I don't know where you got that I am one of the worst defensive teams...

I didn't have this team but for 2 sims last season and my starting lineup is (A-, A, A-, A, B+) that isn't hte best but not one of the worst, and yes Ivan Strong is not going to be as good as Dirk but I was just filling what I thought was a need as a scoring threat, no matter what position

[GoldenStateGM]

Ivan Strong could be a good defensively as the real Dirk...
In fact, I think he already is

[HornetsGM]

Hawks will be a very good defensive team next season, possibly top 5, as long as they don't start Ivan.

[GoldenStateGM]

Hawks will be a very good defensive team next season, possibly top 5, as long as they don't start Ivan.

Not start Ivan?  Oh, say it isn't so
Man, can you imagine the promotions...

Ivan Strong seem to be perfect for an SNL skit with the Governer of California...

Ivan needs to walk around the arena, doing curls, and calling everyone a "girlie man"...

And then the Cambells soup commercials... Ivan " Only girlie men eat Progresso soup...  real men, men like Ivan Strong (big flex here), they eat Cambell's Hearty Beef and Stew"

[HornetsGM]

I would play him as the second man in the SF and PF spots. Gadz and Tanner should both start, without a doubt.

[HawksGM]

unless Ivan has an amazing TC he's not gonna start, might even sit behind Kurt Thomas, of course sometime I'd experiment by having him backing up PF and SF, but yea I'm also interested to see what he can do offensively and defensively, he has the same ratings as Ethan Terpening for the Sixers and Terp averaged 12 a game, so if he can put up 12 a game I'm happy with that

[GoldenStateGM]

I would play him as the second man in the SF and PF spots. Gadz and Tanner should both start, without a doubt.

We shall see.   With training camp, if Ivan's defense or offense goes up, he almost has to start.
The Hawks do not have a primary offensive option.  Tanner is a great 3rd option, and fit that role very well last year.  Both Rafer (oops, meant Schenky) and Ginobli are good 2nd options, but neither is a true 1st option (although Ginobli is probably closest)  In TC, if Ivan goes up offensively, he is the best offensive option the Hawks have.  And likely their 2nd best rebounder as well.

Of course, I have a B- A- offensive player buried on my bench (Cardinal), and I am not even sure what to do with him now... lol

[NetsGM]

Rafer?

[GoldenStateGM]

Rafer?

Sorry, meant Schenk...  They look alike to me... lol